Running backs share the load

AUBURN - Even before the start of the season, Auburn coaches promised "running back by committee." And they've delivered on that promise.

Sophomore Tre Mason leads the Tigers in rushing/Robin Conn photo

Four games into the season, three different tailbacks have led the team in rushing - sophomore Tre Mason against Clemson and LSU, redshirt freshman Mike Blakely against Mississippi State and senior Onterio McCalebb against Louisiana-Monroe.

For the season, Mason has rushed 53 times for 275 yards and a touchdown, McCalebb, 42 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns and Blakely 15 times for 76 yards. Sophomore Corey Grant, one of the stars of spring practice, has yet to get a carry.

Here are what the three running backs have done game-by-game and carry-by-carry:

LSU 12, AUBURN 10

Mason, 9-54: -1, 26, -6, 9, 8, -2, 1, 12, 7.

McCalebb, 11-24: 4, -2, -4, 4, -1, -1, -7, -1, 9, 3, 20

AUBURN 31, ULM 28

McCalebb, 11-128: 1, 8, 27, 1, 8, 3, 29, 3, 43, 3, 2

Mason, 22-90: 3, 8, 5, 0, 7, 3, 1, 5, 4, 5, 6, 0, 1, 5, 0, 7, 2, 2, 1, 12, 5, 10

Blakely, 3-32: 13, 0, 19

MISS. STATE 28, AUBURN 10

Blakely, 11-42: 3, 5,7, 4, 1, 1, 1, 8, 8, 2,2

Mason, 8-25: 1, 3, 3, 3, 1, 12, 2, 0

McCalebb, 8-4; 8, -3, -9, 9, -7, 8, -1, -1

CLEMSON 26, AUBURN 19

Mason, 14-106: 2, 9, 30, 7, 15, 0, 3, -1, 10, 9, 14, 3, -1, 3, 3

McCalebb, 12-82: 5, 13, 9, 4, 6, -2, 2, 12, 8, 5, 20

Blakely: 1-2 2

Some running back facts:

* Mason has eight carries for 10 yards or more and McCalebb has seven.

* McCalebb has the longest run of the season - 43 yards against Louisiana-Monroe - and the longest touchdown run - 27 yards against Louisiana Monroe.

* In Auburn's two SEC games - against LSU and at Mississippi State - McCalebb carried the ball 19 times and was tackled for losses 11 times.

* Both Mason and Blakely have lost crucial fumbles. McCalebb has not turned the ball over.

As the Tigers return to the practice field today for the first time since last Saturday's down-to-the wire loss to No. 2 LSU, the Tigers will look for a spark on offense and try to build on the momentum of, by far, he best defensive performance of the season.

Arkansas visits Jordan-Hare Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Oct. 6.